Helping my girl have a great start to her life…

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We’ve known Delania for six years. She used to rent from me, starting when my Isabella had just turned three. She lived with us for a few years and then returned back to Orlando.

Delania has three grown children of her own, and Isabella reminded her of her own daughter and times gone by. They connected instantly, and Isabella blossomed with her attention.

There would be no way to sum up all the caring and time and affection that Delania contributed to my daughter in those years. Besides the good times at our house throwing parties, Delania brought adventure to our lives. She’s lively and got us into building bonfires out back and camping.

It was sad when she moved on, but I was grateful that she had come into Isabella’s life and provided all that nurturing along with my own efforts. She vowed to stay in touch and a part of Isabella’s life, and she did.

A month ago, she and I planned the next trip for Isabella to see her and to have some new adventures together.

Finally, this was the weekend to go to Delania’s.

We arrived in Orlando Friday night, toured Disney Springs and then went to the town of Celebration, a Disney designed town on Saturday morning. Finally, it was my time to leave. Delania had looked up possible adventure and was suggesting zip lining and obstacle courses on ropes in trees. I thought it sounded great.

Isabella clammed up and said she didn’t want to do it. We had done a small zip lining and tree rope course locally, but this would be much more challenging.

We talked about honoring her own instincts but also being open. Then, they drove off. It’s always sad watching your daughter drive off. But I was also happy, because the whole trip with what would amount to eight hours of driving was to give my daughter a great weekend that would be fun and foster her independence and inner strength.

I had given Delania my debit card to pay for whatever came up. A few hours after we parted, I checked my bank account and smiled when I saw that a charge had been made for the zip lining place.

Late at night, I couldn’t take it anymore. Finally, I sent a text message…

“Any pics?”

“Everything okay?”

Turns out Delania was just getting ready to send them. Videos started streaming in, one after another of her zip lining and making her way through rope obstacles courses high up in the trees. I was so proud and happy and sent a message to that fact.

She responded back telling me that she was so proud of herself, too. Delania added a couple text messages to tell me that Isabella had grown a lot as a person this weekend. Clearly, Delania had made her feel safe but also nudged her persistently into new territory.

Sappy Daddy alert.

No, I didn’t cry, but my eyes did moisten. There was my nine-year old girl, out of town on her own with our friend, stretching herself into new personal power. I was so happy. It was the perfect Father’s Day gift, one day early, not that I needed one.

Today, I’ll be driving back up there to meet them, taking my parents with me. The five of us will have dinner in Disney Springs and conclude the weekend.

I was writing, cleaning and tending to them – the basics like chasing them, making them mac ‘n cheese and telling them to drink water four hundred times.

Anyway, I was feeling fantastic from the momentum I have with my creative projects, the house being in good shape and doing my push-ups. Spontaneously, I jumped in front of them at their table and exclaimed, “Yes! I love life, and I feel great!” I then went about jumping up and down on the trampoline around them.

As I headed off to the kitchen, my girl called out-

Her – “She just turned to me and shook her head.”

That made me laugh, so I headed back in there and amped it up, jumping on the mini-trampoline and gleefully belting out – “I love life, I love people, I love what I’m up to. I’m blessed, I’m loved, I’m worth!”

Her friend was into it now and asked me to wear my daughter’s mood ring.

Purple.

Her Friend – “That means you’re happy.”

Bam! Passed the test.

It was now time to leave them me in their world of imagination. So, I headed off to the kitchen to take care of some mundane tasks but simultaneously, oddly satisfied with the mess as it came from helping my daughter have a good day.

I wondered if that was a moment.

It’s been sort of a mission this year for me to add in even more playful moments into my daughter’s day. Maybe it’s because she’s getting older and I’m seeing my little girl disappear into a grown up girl.

So, maybe I created a memorable moment there. You never know what kids remember. Maybe years from now they’ll be hanging out, shopping in London, talking about things they remember from when they were kids. Maybe her friend says…

Her Friend – “Hey, remember that time your dad jumped into the room while we were making headbands and started pumping his fist all happy and crazy? We had him put that ring on to test his mood?”

Maybe they remember. Maybe they laugh. Maybe my daughter smiles thinking about a childhood filled with moments like that.

Lately, I’m doing a good deal of thinking about how to make the most out of one’s morning as I’m developing a personal development system for myself and to offer others.

So, I was curious this morning how she would wake up.

What does a nine year-old child who loves life do?

When I heard her rustling in bed, I headed over and snuggled up next to her. Being a sappy Daddy, I just stared at her a while. Any parent knows that watching your child sleep is sacred.

Suddenly, she popped up, zoomed off to the bathroom and then returned to her bed and back into the warmth of her blanket and my snuggles. She gave me a kiss and then curled up.

No hurry to get up, I guess.

Eventually, she stretched her arms out and said, “I love myself.”

I chuckled, both a little surprised and delighted. Of course, she’s said this many times before, but it’s usually before falling asleep or in the context of some discussion about worth and self-respect.

After her sweet declaration, she rolled over, smiled, gave me another kiss on the cheek and then returned to her ball of warmth.

It made me wonder where her statement came from…

Is it because all of her life she has gotten messages that she is valuable?

“You’re valuable, so I spend quality time with you every day and figure out how to tend to my own passions and responsibilities along with that.”

“You’re valuable, so I make sure you get healthy food, drink water, exercise and get the sleep you need.”

“You’re valuable, so I talk with you about the values and life skills you will need to live a quality life.”

“You’re valuable, so I talk with you about what is not acceptable for others to say or do to you and how to take a stand for your well being.”

“You’re valuable, so I wake you up in a conscious way and help you get to sleep at night in a conscious way, with plenty of snuggles.”

“You’re valuable, so I don’t use time outs or spank you, and I apologize if I’ve gotten upset and raised my voice.”

“You’re valuable, so I make sure that you have positive friends and families in your life and plenty of playdates.”

“You’re valuable, so I take time to help you figure out your interests at this point in your life and how best to go about developing them.”

These messages have been conveyed thousands upon thousands of times through the years directly and indirectly.

And yet, I wonder if her saying “I love myself” is just innate. After all, to my knowledge, there has never been a baby mired in self-loathing and depression. It’s the opposite. They radiate well being on every level, assuming they are healthy.

So, is her self-love at nine years of age nurtured or just a child’s nature?

Reminds me a wise friend of mine who passed away a few years ago. He used to say, “If ever you’re wondering if it’s one or the other because there are strong arguments for both… it’s probably both.”

This reminds me of a plaque I have that reads, ‘While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what Life is all about.’

I was sitting on the couch watching the French Open semifinals. She was seated next to me waiting for our departure to get a journal for the summer for her to record her experiences. In the mean time, she was writing and drawing.

Suddenly, she handed me a piece of paper.

Her – “Here. This is all it takes to be human.”

She had designed it in sort of a pyramid. At the bottom were Love and Peace. Above that Happy. Then Calm, Wow and Brave.

Yesterday, she finished third grade. Pictures with her long-time teachers. Dinner and beach time with friends. Going to sleep late topped off by sleeping in.

Ahh, the joy of sleeping in a bit. But not too much.

She has a playdate scheduled right away with one of her best pals, but the Play Gene in children has no switch. So, after she followed through on my insistence that she tidy up her various messes around the house, she got right to work being a kid.

While I was vacuuming I heard her voice

Her – “Daddy?”

Me – “Yeah?”

Her – “Do you have any borax?”

I chuckled. Here we go. Her concoctions…

Me – “Um… check the laundry room.”

No.

Me – “Pantry.”

No.

Closet in the hallway with cleaning supplies.

No.

Her – “It’s okay, I’ll make something else.”

Me – “We can buy some later today. What are you making?”

Her – “Slime.”

Of course. Perfect way to kick off summer. Make slime.

While I pondered slime on the furniture, she found a rubber glove, filled it with water and turned it into her third hand, trying to play piano with it, waving to me with it from behind my computer.

We had a relaxing night watching ‘America’s Got Talent’ and part of ‘World of Dance.’ By that time, she was very sleepy. She headed off to bed, brushed her teeth and then called out to me across the house repeatedly for snuggles.

As usual, I asked her to tell me three things she loved about her day. Without missing a beat she replied-

Her – “I love you. I had a good day. I love myself.”

Me – “That’s sweet. All is well. All is well. All is well. You are loved.”

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Welcome. Like countless parents, helping my child experience the best start to life that I can muster is my passion. Here I track meaningful, humorous and thought-provoking moments on the journey with my daughter.